I just want to say that it's absolutely amazing that SWA started and kept this blog alive with all of the negativity in its threads. I am - and always will be - a fan of Southwest Airlines (as just a regular old passenger) and think some of what was said in here was uncalled for. I think this blog deserves more positivity, so I'm going to provide some.
I love Southwest Airlines for the following reasons, and have been flying them for 15 years:
1) This company thrives on making it affordable to fly. From weekly fare specials, to Ding! fares (that conveniently and frequently show up in your task bar with a cute little piece of mail on the tail of airplane), to their Featured Destination, you can get a great deal to great US cities often. I can cite many specific examples of fares I've gotten for less than $100, and can only recall paying more than $200 on two or three (of ~90) occasions. SWA has spoiled me to the point that fares over $200-250 are appalling!
2) Southwest has a great rewards program. After flying 8 roundtrip trips, you can get a free flight. This program has (understandably, considering the economy) offered fewer of the "double rewards" it used to offer, but I have gotten SEVERAL free tickets on SWA.
3) Southwest has some of the greatest employees on earth. They are positive, cheerful, helpful, funny, concerned, and passionate about keeping up a great reputation for themselves and their company. I'll never forget the time a flight attendant said "meow" over the intercom around 35 times while explaining that we were arriving to Chicago on time and beginning our descent.
4) Southwest has an excellent record of leaving on time, and getting places early. I'm not the type to look up the exact stats, or how they compare with other airlines, but I've experienced very few late departures (luckily, the times I did, I really needed the flight to be as late as I was running), and very few late arrivals (maybe even none...).
5) The Spirit magazine they have on board is always interesting. I know they encourage it, but I've taken many of them home with me.
6) I happen to love the fact that, regardless of flight time, I always get a package of peanuts and a little snack whose smell is non-offensive to people sitting around me. While some people may complain about an airline that does not provide in-flight food service (not many do these days anyway), I like the fact that if it's a longer flight, I know I need to pick up my own lunch or dinner.
7) They don't hate my bag (and I just love that commercial!). I rarely check bags, but if I did, I sure wouldn't want to have to pay for it. If, however, it was necessary to keep the company alive, I would.
8) Each month in Spirit magazine, they take the time to recognize an outstanding employee and an outstanding customer (or group of customers). There are full pages dedicated to these people, and I think it's just amazing. The CEO or CIO also make it a point to dedicate an article to the magazine talking about their experiences with the airline industry, with travel in general, with customers who've touched their hearts. They've told beautiful stories of personal and emotional times in our nation's history that shall never be forgotten and many stories of the happiness and joy travel brings to families during the holidays. I've never felt like I've known the beliefs and values of the top executives at a major corporation the way I feel like I know SWA's.
9) Southwest and its employees gives millions of dollars and a lot of time/hours (again, don't know stats) to various charities around our country. The great employees of Southwest make perfect fits as true altruists!
10) Southwest makes no bones about valuing its employees over its customers. I've read several accounts of this fact in the Spirit magazine, and to be frank, didn't really understand it at first. How could a company value its employees more than its customers? Well, clearly, it's great for any employee to work for a company that believes in this. Every working person would agree, right? Every consumer who believes that the customer is always right may not. However, it is clear to me that the trickle down effect of this value system makes for a very positive customer experience. And, you gotta love a company that loves its people.
11) Southwest's stock symbol is 'LUV' for goodness sakes! Enough said. (it's not over yet, though)
12) Southwest has never (knock on virtual wood) crashed. They only fly one type of aircraft for several business reasons, no doubt, but the main driver behind this is passenger safety. Every pilot and co-pilot knows how to fly the plane, every bagging agent knows how to appropriately and safely load baggage, every person on the maintenance crew knows how to maintain the aircraft and knows everything that could possibly be wrong with the plane if something doesn't look or sound right, etc. Bottom line is, I feel SAFE on Southwest Airlines.
13) This company, its corporate culture, its loyal customer base, and its sheer success is documented in many business articles and books and is studied in business schools around the country. Many companies admire, but can never achieve, the (near) perfection that is SWA.
14) New one from today: They have the character, confidence, transparency, and courage to publish and maintain this particular blog.
15) Southwest does not think of it as a business opportunity to make money when people need to change their flights - regardless of the reason. It's rarely free to change your flight last minute, but you're not going to be paying $100+ to do so.
16) There are probably a good 10 more reasons I think this airline is great, but I'm winding down and hope I've made enough of a point.
To all the other Southwest customers and employees that happen to love this company, I hope you choose to make your voice heard here as well. To those of you who have posted threads on this site, I sincerely wish you all the best. Mergers/acquisitions are no fun, and tend to scare people. I truly hope that the deal that was reached will be the best for all involved.
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I just want to say that it's absolutely amazing that SWA started and kept this blog alive with all of the negativity in its threads. I am - and always will be - a fan of Southwest Airlines (as just a regular old passenger) and think some of what was said in here was uncalled for. I think this blog deserves more positivity, so I'm going to provide some.
I love Southwest Airlines for the following reasons, and have been flying them for 15 years:
1) This company thrives on making it affordable to fly. From weekly fare specials, to Ding! fares (that conveniently and frequently show up in your task bar with a cute little piece of mail on the tail of airplane), to their Featured Destination, you can get a great deal to great US cities often. I can cite many specific examples of fares I've gotten for less than $100, and can only recall paying more than $200 on two or three (of ~90) occasions. SWA has spoiled me to the point that fares over $200-250 are appalling!
2) Southwest has a great rewards program. After flying 8 roundtrip trips, you can get a free flight. This program has (understandably, considering the economy) offered fewer of the "double rewards" it used to offer, but I have gotten SEVERAL free tickets on SWA.
3) Southwest has some of the greatest employees on earth. They are positive, cheerful, helpful, funny, concerned, and passionate about keeping up a great reputation for themselves and their company. I'll never forget the time a flight attendant said "meow" over the intercom around 35 times while explaining that we were arriving to Chicago on time and beginning our descent.
4) Southwest has an excellent record of leaving on time, and getting places early. I'm not the type to look up the exact stats, or how they compare with other airlines, but I've experienced very few late departures (luckily, the times I did, I really needed the flight to be as late as I was running), and very few late arrivals (maybe even none...).
5) The Spirit magazine they have on board is always interesting. I know they encourage it, but I've taken many of them home with me.
6) I happen to love the fact that, regardless of flight time, I always get a package of peanuts and a little snack whose smell is non-offensive to people sitting around me. While some people may complain about an airline that does not provide in-flight food service (not many do these days anyway), I like the fact that if it's a longer flight, I know I need to pick up my own lunch or dinner.
7) They don't hate my bag (and I just love that commercial!). I rarely check bags, but if I did, I sure wouldn't want to have to pay for it. If, however, it was necessary to keep the company alive, I would.
8) Each month in Spirit magazine, they take the time to recognize an outstanding employee and an outstanding customer (or group of customers). There are full pages dedicated to these people, and I think it's just amazing. The CEO or CIO also make it a point to dedicate an article to the magazine talking about their experiences with the airline industry, with travel in general, with customers who've touched their hearts, with recollections of personal and emotional times in our nation's history that shall never be forgotten, and stories of the happiness and joy travel brings to families during the holidays. I've never felt like I've known the values and beliefs of the "higher ups" of a major corporation the way I feel like I know this Southwest's.
9) Southwest and its employees gives millions of dollars and a lot of time/hours (again, don't know stats) to various charities around our country. The great employees of Southwest make perfect fits as true altruists!
10) Southwest makes no bones about valuing its employees over its customers. I've read several accounts of this fact in the Spirit magazine, and to be frank, didn't really understand it at first. How could a company value its employees more than its customers? Well, clearly, it's great for any employee to work for a company that believes in this. Every working person would agree, right? Every consumer who believes that the customer is always right may not. However, it is clear to me that the trickle down effect of this value system makes for a very positive customer experience. And, you gotta love a company that loves its people.
11) Southwest's stock symbol is 'LUV' for goodness sakes! Enough said. (it's not over yet, though)
12) Southwest has never (knock on virtual wood) crashed. They only fly one type of aircraft for several business reasons, no doubt, but the main driver behind this is passenger safety. Every pilot and co-pilot knows how to fly the plane, every bagging agent knows how to appropriately and safely load baggage, every person on the maintenance crew knows how to maintain the aircraft and knows everything that could possibly be wrong with the plane if something doesn't look or sound right, etc. Bottom line is, I feel SAFE on Southwest Airlines.
13) This company, its corporate culture, its loyal customer base, and its sheer success is documented in many business articles and books and is studied in business schools around the country. Many companies admire, but can never achieve, the (near) perfection that is SWA.
14) New one from today: They have the character, confidence, transparency, and courage to publish and maintain this particular blog.
15) Southwest does not think of it as a business opportunity to make money when people need to change their flights - regardless of the reason. It's rarely free to change your flight last minute, but you're not going to be paying $100+ to do so.
16) There are probably a good 10 more reasons I think this airline is great, but I'm winding down and hope I've made enough of a point.
To all the other Southwest customers and employees that happen to love this company, I hope you choose to make your voice heard here as well. To those of you who have posted threads on this site, I sincerely wish you all the best. Mergers/acquisitions are no fun, and tend to scare people. I truly hope that the deal that was reached will be the best for all involved.
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